Intrauterine device



April 15, 1969 M. s. BURNHILL INTRAUTERINE DEVICE Filed March 11, 1966 United States Patent 3,438,369 INTRAUTERINE DEVICE Michael S. Burnhill, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignor to LCD. Corporation, Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 11, 1966, Ser. No. 533,543 Int. Cl. A61f /46 US. Cl. 128-130 19 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to an intrauterine device and more particularly to an improved intrauterine device which will resist efforts by the uterus to eject it.

For a number of years intrauterine devices have been used which have a number of constructions, for example, rings and coils have also been used in recent years a bow has become prevalent.

The present invention is an improvement over these prior intrauterine devices and has for one of its objects the provision of an improved intrauterine device which will not be ejected from the uterus.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved intrauterine device which can be easily introduced into the uterus.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved intrauterine device which is of simple construction.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved intrauterine device in which folding of the device is facilitated.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the intrauterine device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the uterus showing the intrauterine device shown in FIG. 1 positioned in the uterus;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the intrauterine device positioned in the uterus;

FIG. 4 is a front view of another form of the intrauterine device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exaggerated side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is another modification of the intrauterine device of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is another modification of the present intrauterine device;

FIG. 8 is another modification of the present intrauterine device;

FIG. 9 shows another form of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is another embodiment similar to FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a side view of the intrauterine device shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a side view showing the position of the device shown in MG. 12 when in use; and

FIG. 14 shows another embodiment similar to FIG. 11.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FlIGS. l to 3, the present invention comprises an intrauterine device having a front body portion 2 and a real body portion 3 integral with each other and preferably of symmetrical configuration. The front body portion 2 is substantially in the form of a truncated triangle and comprises front and rear bases 4 and 5, respectively, joined by legs 6 and 7. The rear body portion 3 is also substantially triangular and comprises a rear base 8 and legs 9 and 10 which form an apex 11 integral with the rear base 5 of front body portion 2 at substantially its midpont. In order to facilitate flexing of the device, the corners 12 and 13 which connect the rear base 8 and legs 9 and 10, respectively, are each made of much thinner material.

The intrauterine device 1 is inserted into the uterus (shown diagrammatically in BIG. 2) and lies in the uterus as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 with the rear body portion 3 in the fundus portion and the front portion in the isthmic portion. The wall of the uterus 14 will hold the intrauterine device 1 tightly in place by applying pressure to the legs 6 and 7 of body portion 2 and legs 9 and 10 of body portion 3 thereof to snugly hold the posterior and anterior portions of the device. Hence the intrauterine device lies more comfortably in the uterus and will not be ejected. If desired the intrauterine device may be bowed or curved as it is shown in FIG. 3.

The modification shown in FIG. 4 is similar to the one shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. However instead of the front body portion 2 having a front base 4, the legs 6 and 7 converge on each other to form an apex 16.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is similar to the structure shown in FIG. 4. However the legs 9 and 10 of the rear body portion 3 are tapered in cross section and are thicker than the cross section of the legs of the front body portion in order to permit more pressure to be applied to the fundus: portion of the uterus than to isthmic portion.

The embodiment shown in 'FIG. 6 illustrates an in trauterine device in which rear, intermediate and front body portions 20, 21 and 22, respectively, are provided. The rear body portion 20 has rear and front bases 23 and 24, respectively, connected together by angled legs 25. Intermediate body portion 21 has rear and front bases 26 and 27, respectively, connected together by angled legs 28. Front body portion 22 has rear and front bases 29 and 30, respectively, connected together by angled legs 31.

The front base 24 of rear body portion 20 and rear base -26 of intermediate body portion 21 are connected together by a stem 32. The front base 27 of intermediate body portion 21 and rear base 29 of front body portion 22 are connected together by stem 33. The legs 25, 28 and 31 are preferably in axial alignment with each other to give the devicve the general appearance of a truncated triangle. 'It will be understood that while three body portions 20, 21 and 22 have been shown in FIG. 6, the device may utilize any number of body portions, as may be desired, without departing from the scope of the invention.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 7 has a body portion 35 comprising rear and front bases 36 and 37, respectively, connected together by angled legs 38. An elongated stem 39 extends from front base 37. Portions of the stem 39 are axially aligned with legs 38 to give the device a generally triangular configuration.

The embodiment in FIG. 8 is similar to that of FIG. 7 in that it has a body portion 40 having front and rear bases 41 and 42, respectively, connected by legs 43. However the stem 44 extends from the rear or longer base '42 rather than from the front or shorter base as in FIG. 7.

The embodiment in FIIG. 9 shows'a body portion 45 having front and rear bases 46 and 47, respectively, connected together by legs 48. A stem 49 extends from the rear base 47 and is provided with diverging integrally formed closed pressure lobes 50 which are connected to stem 49 by stem branches 51 which are radially angled with respect to each other. The pressure lobes 50 as shown in the drawings as being rectangular with round corners, however, it will be understood, the lobes 50 may assume any desired configuration. The pressure lobes 50 are adapted to apply pressure to the side walls of the uterus when it is inserted therein.

FIG. 10 is a modified form of the structure shown in FIG. 9. The device shown in FIG. 10 includes a body portion 45 and a pair of pressure lobes 50. However the lobes 50 are independently mounted on the body portion 45 by a pair of stems 53.

PlIGS. 11, 12 and 13 shows another embodiment which is provided with a body portion 55 and a pair of anterior and posterior pressure lobes 56 and 57, respectively, connected to the body portion by stems 58. The pressure lobes are angled to each other and to the plane of the body portion 55 and are biased in an outward direction. tIn the uterus the lobes are squeezed together as shown in FIG. 13. The tendency of the lobes to spread apart will hold the device firmly in place.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 14 is similar to the one shown in FIGS. 11 to 13. However the lobes 56 and 57 extend from a common stem 59 rather than separate stems.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides an improved intrauterine device which resists expulsion because of the lateral compression of the end legs by the walls of the uterus and because of the bow effect given to the rear base by the compression of the end legs.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An intrauterine device comprising a front body portion and at least one rear body portion integral with said front body portion, said front body portion having a substantially straight rear base and a pair of legs integral with the rear base and extending therefrom in a direction away from the rear base, the rear body portion being connected to, integral with and extending from the rear base of the front body portion.

2. An intrauterine device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the legs of the rear body portion are angled toward each other to form an apex which is connected to and integral with the rear base of the front body portion.

3. An intrauterine device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said front body portion has a front base and legs connected to and integral with the rear base thereof.

4. An intrauterine device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the legs of the front body portion are angled toward each other to form an apex.

5. An intrauterine device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the legs of the rear body portion have a tapered cross-sectional configuration.

6. An intrauterine device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the corners of the rear body portion formed by the rear base and the legs are thinner in cross-section than the cross-section of the legs.

7. An intrauterine device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one intermediate body portion is provided between the rear and front body portions, said intermediate body portion having a rear base, a front base and angled legs connecting the bases together, the front base of the rear body portion being integral and connected to the rear base of the intermediate body portion and the from base of the intermediate body portion being integral with the rear base of the front body portion.

8. An intrauterine device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the legs of the three body portions are in axial alignment with each other.

9. An intrauterine device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bases of the front and rear body portions are substantially parallel to each other.

10. An intrauterine device comprising a front body portion having a straight rear base and a pair of legs integral with and extending from the rear base in a direction away from the rear base, at least one pressure lobe extending rearwardly from said rear base of the front body portion in a direction opposite to the direction of the legs and being integral with and connected to said rear base of the front body portion.

11. An intrauterine device as claimed in claim 10, wherein a pair of pressure lobes extend from the rear base of said body portion.

12. An intrauterine device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said pressure lobes are radially angled relative to said front body portion.

13. An intrauterine device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said pair of lobes are angled with respect to each other.

14. An intrauterine device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said lobes are angled with respect to the plane of the body portion.

15. An intrauterine device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said lobes extend from a single stem on the rear base of the body ortion.

16. An intrauterine device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said lobes extend from separate stems on the rear base of the body portion.

17. An intrauterine device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said lobes are angled to the plane of the body portion.

18. An intrauterine device comprising a body portion having rear and front bases, end legs connecting said bases together and an undulating stem extending from one of said bases.

19. An intrauterine device as claimed in claim 17, wherein said end legs are angled with respect to each other and wherein portions of said stem are in axial alignment with said angled end legs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 533,120 1/1895 Ferguson 128130 662,716 11/1900 Gaede-ke 128130 3,230,953 1/1966 Birnberg et al 128-130 3,234,938 2/1966 Robinson 128-430 3,291,125 12/1966 Robinson 12813O 3,230,953 1/1966 Birnberg et a1. 128130 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner. 

